Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
Shri Mandaviya Says, Cargo Transport on National Waterways Rose from 6.59 Mt in 2014-15 to 72.31 in 2018-19
Development Work Currently Underway on 10 NWs
The Minister of State for Shipping  and Chemical & Fertilizers Shri Mansukh Mandaviya,in written repliesto questions in Lok Sabha today,gave detailed information on the status of development of Inland Waterways in the country, and the growth of cargo transportation on these waterways:
Shri Mansukh Mandaviya informed that thetransportation of cargo on National Waterways hasincreased from 2016-17 onwards, when new NWs were declared under the National Waterways Act, 2016. The growth trend over the last five years and the current year was as follows:
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Year
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2014-15
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2015-16
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2016-17
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2017-18
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2018-19
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2019-20
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Cargo transported on NWs 
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6.59
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8.14
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55.47
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55.03
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72.31
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14.59

In reply to another question Shri Mandaviya informed that 13 NW are operational with vessels plying on them. These include National Waterway-1  , NW-2 , NW -3  have already been developed with fairway, navigational aids, jetties and terminals with mechanized equipment handling facilities for loading and unloading of cargo. These waterways including NW-10 , NW-27 , NW-68 , NW-73 , NW-83 , NW-85 , NW-91 , NW-97 , NW-100  and NW-111 
The Jal Marg Vikas Project  for capacity augmentation of navigation on the Haldia -Varanasi stretch of National Waterway-1  is being implemented at an estimated cost of Rs. 5369.18 crore with technical and financial assistance of the World Bank. Projects worth Rs. 1800 crore  have commenced on ground in a time period of three years after statutory clearances.In NW-4 on the Vijayawada – Muktyala stretch of river Krishna, fairway development works and construction of terminals are in progress at a cost of Rs. 96 crore.
The Minister further informed that techno-economic feasibility is being done for the new National Waterways, and Detailed Project Reports  being prepared. As per the DPRs completed so far, 36 of the new NWs have been found to be technically viable, and development activities have been initiated on the 10 most viable NWs as given in the table below:-
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Name of the Waterway
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Status
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- River Barak 
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Development works at a cost of Rs. 76.01 crore for Phase-1 from Silchar to Bhanga has commenced. This includes maintenance dredging, upgradation of terminals at Badarpur and Karimganj. Waterway is operational with limited infrastructure facility.
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- River Gandak 
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Development work at a cost of Rs. 12.91 crore including fairway maintenance work has commenced. Waterway is operational with limited infrastructure facility.
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Waterways in Goa
- NW-27-Cumberjua
- NW 68 – Mandovi
- NW 111 – Zuari
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Work is proposed to be executed through Government of Goa with the assistance of Mormugao Port Trust. A Tripartite MoU has been signed for the commencement of works. Development works at an estimated cost of Rs. 22.65 crore has commenced. NWs of Goa are operational.
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6. Alappuzha – Kottayam – Athirampuzha Canal  :
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Development of the waterway at an estimated cost of Rs. 1.60 crore has commenced. Night navigation facilities has been procured and installed. Dredging is proposed departmentally. Waterway is already operational for ferry services.
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7. River Rupnarayan 
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Development works on the waterway at an estimated cost of Rs. 24.00 crore has commenced. Work has been awarded for setting up of floating terminal. Tendering for dredging is at an advanced stage. Waterway is operational.
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8. Sunderbans Waterways 
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Development works on waterway at an estimated cost of Rs. 18.10 crore has commenced. Dredging work is in progress. Waterway is part of Indo-Bangladesh Protocol route and already operational for vessels.
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9. River Kosi 
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Project sanctioned for Rs. 15.68 crore to develop the waterway with minimum required infrastructure . Tender for river conservancy works and floating pontoon facility are in progress for making the waterway operational.
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10. River Ghagra 
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An amount of Rs. 11.60 crore has been approved for fairway development by bandalling and day channel marking, creation of floating terminals and monthly surveys. Tender for river conservancy works and floating pontoon facility are in progress for making the waterway operational.
Shri Mandaviya also informed that the Ministry of Shippinghad issued directionsdated 18.04.2018 to five Major Ports to take up development of the National Waterways which are in their proximity, through release of grants by Inland Waterways Authority of India . A sum of Rs. 750.36 crore has been provided as Gross Budgetary Support for the Inland Waterways Authority of India for the financial year 2019-20, to undertake various activities, including development of National Waterways  through Major Ports.The list of National Waterways assigned to five Major Ports is as below-
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Sl. no.
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Major Port
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Name of Waterway with distance in 
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National Waterway No.
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1.
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New Mangalore Port Trust 
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i. Kabini 
ii. Gurupur 
iii. Kali 
iv. Netrawathi 
v. Sharavati 
vi. Ghataprabha 
vii. Malaprabha 
viii. Tungabhadra 
ix. Bheema 
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NW – 51
NW - 43
NW – 52
NW – 74
NW - 90
NW - 41
NW - 67
NW-104
NW - 21
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2.
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Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust 
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i. Amba river 
ii. Arunavati-Aran river 
iii. Dabhol Creek-Vashisti river 
iv. Kalyan-Thane-Mumbai Waterway Vasai Creek
Ulhas river 
v. Manjara river 
vi. Nag river 
vii. Penganga-Wardha river 
viii. Revdanda Creek- Kundalika river 
ix. Bankot Creek – Savita river 
x. Tapi river 
xi. Wainganga-Pranahita river 
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NW-10
NW- 11
NW – 28
NW- 53
NW- 70
NW- 72
NW- 78
NW- 85
NW- 89
NW- 100
NW- 109
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3.
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Deendayal Port Trust, Kandla
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i. Mahi river 
ii. Narmada river 
iii. Tapi river 
iv. Jawai-Luni rivers and Rann Kutch 
v. Luni river 
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NW- 66
NW- 73
NW- 100
NW- 48
NW- 327
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4.
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Paradip Port Trust 
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i. Brahmani- Kharsua - Tantighai- PanduaNala- DedheiNala- KaniDhamra- river System, Geonkhali- Charbatia Stretch of East Coast canal, Charbatia- Dhamra Stretch of Matai river and Mahanadi Delta rivers 
ii. Baitarni river 
iii. Mahanadi river 
iv. Subarnrekha river 
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NW- 5
NW- 14
NW- 64
NW- 96
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5.
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Mormugao Port Trust 
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i. Mandovi river 
ii. Cumberjua 
iii. Zuari 
iv. Chapori 
v. Mapusa 
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NW- 68
NW- 27
NW- 111
NW- 25
NW- 71
The Minister further informed that no proposal is under consideration of the Government to form Special Purpose Vehicle  for development of National Waterways by the Major Ports, as on date.